Engraving machine having adjustable template fixture



' Jan. 3, 1967 J. NISENSON 3,295,211

ENGRAVING MACHINE HAVING ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE FIXTURE Filed Oct. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 3, 1967 J. NISENSON 3,295,211

ENGRAVING MACHINE HAVING ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE FIXTURE Filed Oct. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 0 8 e g 75 WWWW l I i M i i a ll 1 I I I x 1 i United States Patent 3,295,211 ENGRAVING MACHINE HAVING ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE FIXTURE Jules Niseuson, Croton on Hudson, N.Y., assignor to Granlip Corp., New York, N.Y. Filed Oct. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 407,158 1 Claim. (CI. 33-23) This invention relates generally to the field of engraving devices, of the type used for making name plates, placing indices on finger rings, etc., and more particularly to an improved embodiment having adjustable matrix guide centering means which facilitates the alignment and positioning of a guiding matrix to result in a centered evenly spaced engraved line. Devices of this type are generally known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructural details disclosed herein.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved matrix guide centreing machine which will facilitate the centering of a line of engraving in so far as the guiding matrices are concerned, so that when the machine is operative, a centered engraved line will result.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved adjustable matrix guide centering means in which the cost of fabrication may be of a low order, with consequent wide sale distribution and use.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved matrix guide centering means which may be incorporated into existing engraving machines with relatively minor modifications.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved adjustable matrix guide centering means for use with engraving machines of the type described, which may be of such construction as to be alternately used with matrices having relatively unevenly spaced characters, as for example the duplication of a personal signature.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the improved adjustable matrix guide centering means may be readily disassembled for servicing using a minimum of tools, and only ordinary skill in the art.

These objects and features as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the use of the embodiment with relatively short length assembled matrices.

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation showing a clamping means illustrated in use in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing an alternate form of matrix.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional View, partly in elevation, as seen from the plane 5-5 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view, as seen from the plane 6-6 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional view, as seen from the plane 7-7 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a view in elevation of one of the members comprising the adjustable matrix guide centering means in detached condition.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, as seen from the plane 9-9 in FIGURE 1.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a base 11, a stylus element supporting means 12, a stylus element 13, a stylus guide element 14, a vise element 15, and matrix guide means 16.

The base element 11 may be of die cast construction, including a main horizontal wall 19, side walls, one of which is indicated by reference character 20, and may also include storage means 21 in the form of a front drawer. Mounted on either side of the base element 11, adjacent the horizontal wall 19, are a pair of rack means, one of which is indicated by reference character 22 which permit longitudinal adjustment of the vise element 15, as will more fully appear hereinafter.

The stylus element supporting means 12 includes a pair of vertical columns 24- and 25, which mount a sliding frame 26 having threaded locking means 27 and hinge means 28. The hinge means 28 supports a pantograph structure 29 including parallel members 30 and 31, as well as parallel 32 and 33, as is well known in the art. The member 32 mounts the etching stylus 13, while the member 33 supports the guiding stylus 14.

The vise element 15 includes an adjustable saddle 37 adapted to be moved upon the base element 11 toward and away from the stylus element supporting means 12 by rack and pinion means, the pinion engaging the rack 22 being concealed within side members, one of which is indicated by reference character 38. Interconnecting the side members 38 is a top member 39 which supports a transversely movable adjusting means 40. The means 40 includes a second saddle 41 having index means 42 thereof cooperating with indices 43 on the upper surface 44 of the top member 39. Mounted upon the saddle 41 is a C clamp, including first and second movable jaws 4-6 and 47, respectively which are moved toward and away from each other by a double threaded lead screw 43.

The matrix guide means 16 is positioned on a pair of vertical support columns 50 and 51, and includes an extruded aluminum frame 52 (see FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 9). Extending downwardly from the upper surface of the frame 52 are first and second guideways 53 and 54. The first guideway 53 is provided with clamping means 55, best understood from a consideration of FIGURE 9, the purpose of which is to clamp a selected matrix 95 by means of a movable member 57. The movable member is urged rightwardly, as seen in FIGURE 9, by a shaft 58 having an enlargement 59 at one end thereof and a pin 60 at an opposite end thereof. The pin 60 supports a cam member 61 preferably formed integrally with a handle 62 for manual manipulation. The cam member 61 bears against a plate 63, and from a consideration of FIGURE 9 it will be seen that when the handle 62 is in lowered position, the member 57 will be compressed against a matrix. Upon release of the handle 62, a spring 64 will coact with a washer 65 on the shaft 58 to move the member 57 slightly leftwardly, as seen in FIG- URE 9, to permit the removal of the no longer needed matrix.

The upper surface 56 of the member 57 is provided with :1 plurality of calibrations, best seen in FIGURE 1 in the drawing, which indicate the distance from a central point on a line with the point at which engraving actually takes place.

The second guideway 54 includes first and second septurns '70 and 71, which define first, second and third channels 72, 73 and 74, respectively. Disposed in the first channel 72 is an L-shaped guide member 75 having a rack portion 76 cooperating with a pinion 77, the shaft 78 of which is vertically disposed within the second channel 73 (see FIGURE 5). The member '75 is provided with a locking pin 79 engageable selectively with any of a plurality of recesses 79a, and from a consideration of FIGURES 1 and 5 it will be apparent that moving the member 75 in either direction will result in a corresponding movement of an index pointer 80 mounted upon a corresponding rack portion 81 in the third channel 74.

Refierring to FIGURE 8, the member 75 includes a plurality of index lines 82 on the upper surface 83 thereof.

In addition to the means shown in FIGURE 9, individual small matrices may be maintained within the first guideway 53 by clamp members 85, each being of trapezoidal cross section to correspond to the configuration of the channel, and provided with a threaded screw 86 which may be tightened against the bottom surface 87 of the guideway.

OPERATION Setting up of the device for operation may be accomplished in a number of ways. Where the large type of matrix 39 shown in FIGURE 1 is employed, the letters required are preferably sketched lightly in pencil upon the L-shaped guide member 75, and the same moved to center the required word, as indicated when the pointer 80 reaches the last letter of the word. The required letter on the matrix 89 is then positioned opposite each of the lightly sketched letters, a locking operation being performed with each movement to create the entire word in a properly centered fashion.

Where individual matrices 95 are used, an entire line may be assembled using the clamp members 85. It will be observed that each letter of the alphabet with the exception of the letter I requires two spaces, corresponding to two teeth on the rack portion 76.

Where a signature type matrix 94 (see FIGURE 4) is employed, this may be used in a manner similar to that shown in FIGURE 2, reference being made to the length of the signature for centering.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

In an engraving machine having a stylus element and a stylus guiding element, improved matrix guide means comprising: a frame having first and second parallel guideways, clamping means for mounting a matrix in a predetermined position within said first guideway, said second guideway having first, second and third channel means therein, the middle one of said channel means having a centrally located rotatably mounted pinion therein, and first and second rack members disposed in the other two channel means on either side of and meshing with said pinion for mutual relative movement in opposite directions, a plurality of index lines on the upper surface of said first rack member, an index pointer connected to said second rack member at one end thereof and arranged for cooperation with said index lines, a plurality of recesses in said middle channel means, lock pin means threadedly mounted on one end of said first rack member for selective engagement with one of said recesses for fixing the relative positions of said first and second rack members in one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,282,473 5/1942 Hoffman 33-23 X 2,522,886 9/1950 Moore 33-191 X 2,910,774 11/1959 Johanneson 3323 3,110,966 11/1963 Hillig 33-25 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner. HARRY N. HAROIAN, Assistant Examiner. 

